COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders

Many in the islands are wondering how San Juan County is preparing in case access to mainland medical care becomes limited. This is known as medical surge, which the CDC defines  as, “…the ability to provide adequate medical evaluation and care during events that exceed the limits of the normal medical infrastructure of an affected community.”

We’re hopeful, and maybe even a tiny bit optimistic that recent actions to require social distancing and other measures to slow the spread of this virus will help avoid the need to implement any medical surge plans. And if we can get expanded access to testing, that may also help us keep the COVID curve as flat as possible. But make no mistake, without continued active steps to minimize disease spread, the medical system we rely on for both local and advanced off-island care will be overwhelmed. So while it is our sincere hope that the islands won’t experience a worst-case scenario that limits our ability to transport patients to the mainland for advanced treatment, we are very much operating with a mindset of “hoping for the best and planning for the worst.”

Local health care providers, EMS agencies, and the County COVID-19 Response Team have been actively coordinating and have developed plans to provide basic medical services to islanders should the need arise. These plans are flexible, and ready to scale up or down as we learn more about specific needs and limitations in the weeks to come. Continue Reading

FRIDAY HARBOR, WA – San Juan Island County Fire District #3 Commissioners joined the Town of Friday Harbor requesting postponement of the scheduled April 28, 2020 election asking voters to annex the Town into the Fire District.

Fire District #3 Commissioners requested the postponement due to the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The scheduled election contained two questions – asking Town voters to annex into the Fire District and asking District residents to approve the annexation.

“We recognize the high level of anxiety and needed focus on the COVID-19 crisis. There is an unprecedented amount of financial uncertainty for many of our residents making the timing of the election inappropriate. It’s the right thing to do,” said Chair Bob Jarman.

While Governor Inslee issued a “Stay at Home” order on March 23, scheduled special elections throughout the state were not cancelled by the Governor’s order or separately by the Secretary of State. The annexation vote was the only scheduled item for the April 28 special election. Postponement of the election helps keep election staff safe while saving San Juan County money in posting and processing the election.

“While annexation of the Town into Fire District #3 is the next step in the integration process bringing San Juan Island EMS into San Juan Island Fire and Rescue, we need to move forward with an election at a time that maximizes voter participation,” said SJIF&R Chief Norvin Collins.

Chief Collins added, “During this unprecedented health crisis, we are focused on the islands we serve, and we are working directly with our neighboring islands to protect San Juan County.”

Stephanie Prima – Contributed photo

In this time of COVID-19 we’ve all received tons of emails from businesses offering ‘tips’ to manage the crisis that are sales pitches in disguise. But there is very little on how to deal with the anxiety that comes with daily changes and restrictions. As a gift to our beloved community, I have put together an extensive list of mindfulness practices and a 50-minute Qigong practice to help you manage this stress – no sales pitch, no strings attached.

With social isolation and news of COVID-19 changing daily, it may seem like our lives has been put on hold and we have no control over our daily lives. While we can’t control the virus spread and mandates, we DO have control over ourselves and how we respond to the daily changes. Besides what the CDC recommends to protect ourselves and our loved ones, there are MANY things we can do to lower the anxiety and take back our sense of personal control and well-being.

Feeling better within ourselves is especially critical at this time, because chronic anxiety is stress, and chronic stress without some sort of healthy outlet and balance will compromise the immune system – just what none of us needs right now. Chronic stress can affect all of our physical, emotional, spiritual, and energetic systems, leading to fatigue, insomnia, headaches, digestive problems, and depression.

I am so grateful to live in a community where people are managing this crisis with resiliency, compassion, and generosity toward all our community members. And I’m grateful to all those essential workers who are on the line for the benefit of all.

While I can no longer teach in-person classes, I would like to offer what I can for the benefit of the community. So I share with you some helpful mindfulness and Qigong tactics to reduce anxiety and boost the immune system on several fronts. All are simple and doable by pretty much everyone. Continue Reading

A list of San Juan County Government Departments, their status during the COVID-19 crisis, and info on how to access services has been posted online at:  https://www.sanjuanco.com/Department-Service-Status  

COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islandersNavigating

This article is from Brandon Cadwell, Chief of Visitor and Youth Engagement at
San Juan Island National Historical Park.

Now is the time to take the road less traveled. Or perhaps, the trail or sidewalk less traveled. As the Chief of Visitor and Youth Engagement for the National Park Service on San Juan Island, and a member of San Juan County’s COVID-19 response team, I’m encouraging all of us to go the extra mile – or extra trail head – to protect those we love.

For everyone’s safety, many businesses are temporarily closed, gatherings are limited, and the Governor issued a ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ order. For many, the feeling of being asked to do less and less has been feeling heavier and heavier. Several island residents have asked me what this all means in regards to getting outside. With the shelter at home order, Governor Inslee has expressly allowed and encouraged enjoying the outdoors while maintaining social distancing.

So, what are the rules?

Most local, state, and federal facilities have closed interpretive centers, restrooms, and campgrounds. For now, safe day-use is what currently is allowed. Access to day-use areas is quickly becoming limited. Washington State Parks and Department of Natural Resource lands are now complete closed. You can still find open public lands at:

• San Juan County Parks
• San Juan County Land Bank
• San Juan Preservation Trust
• National Park Service
• Bureau of Land Management

When you venture into the great outdoors, make sure to maintain the same precautions that have been prescribed indoors. If you’re sick – stay home. Keep a minimum distance of six feet from others, and sanitize frequently used surfaces.

Might this be an opportunity for a challenge? Continue Reading

San Juan County Health and Community Services staff have been notified of a positive COVID-19 test result on San Juan Island. This brings the total number of cases in San Juan County to 4. The County data reporting page will be updated on Monday, once all of the test results and numbers from all local healthcare providers are available and updated.

“And because enjoying the outdoors is critical to supporting your mental health, you can still go for a walk or a bike ride or garden in your yard.” Governor Jay Inslee from his “Stay home, stay healthy” order.

English Camp – Mike Vouri photo

“English Camp is good hiking spot with its upland trails to Young Hill, Bell Point loop, Westcott Bay and the Mitchell Hill network. Sunny days are optimum, but I also enjoy the fog and light rain and quiet they bring to the woodlands. You can almost hear the moss breathe.” Mike Vouri

English Camp – Mike Vouri photo

National Park Service Alerts and Conditions: Temporary Closure of Park Facilities: Following guidance from the CDC and state, local, and NPS public health officers, the restrooms at the English Camp parking lot and South Beach Picnic Area are closed until further notice. 

The American Camp Visitor Center area is closed due to the new visitor center construction. The Officer’s Quarters and Parade Grounds can be accessed from the Redoubt Rd. Please stay outside of the active construction area and do not cross barriers.

Fourth of July Beach trailhead and parking area is closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic due to seasonal winter conditions. The Fourth of July Beach area can be accessed at the Jackle’s Lagoon trailhead via Old Town Lagoon.

Dear Customers,

Thank you for your support and patience during this time of COVID-19. We continue to work hard to ensure that you and our employees stay safe and well stocked during this period. We have already discussed many of the measures we’ve implemented in this regard but will be initiating more – and could use your help:

• We ask that anyone who has symptoms of being ill to stay away from the store.
• Please only bring a necessary number of people with you to shop. This will keep the congestion down a bit.
  
• Please bag your own reusable bags or use our bags. We love reusable bags but this is a new health recommendation to ensure bags aren’t bringing in unwanted germs. We aren’t saying no on reusable bags.  We’ve been advised that the best approach is to allow them but not bag them ourselves. 
• We have installed hand-washing stations, please use these when you come into the store, and any other time you feel it is necessary. When in doubt, please wash.
  
• Whenever possible, please keep a minimum of six feet apart from the nearest individual.
  We have initiated a couple of measures to specifically help the 65 and over and other high-risk individuals:
  
• Pick up service at Kings for 65+ and high risk individuals . You order your groceries online (http://www.kings-market.com/online-order.html) and they will be delivered to your car at Kings.
  
• Shopping time just for 65+ and high-risk customers at Marketplace – Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8-10am

At the same time we are working persistently with our suppliers and alternative suppliers to keep the stores as stocked as possible. The stores have not been up to our quality standards but we are optimistic that we have seen the worst and it will be gradually improving over the weeks to come.

Together we will get through this. Thank you for your reasonableness and kindness during these unusual and trying times.

Stay San Juan Strong,
Verne, Ashley, Libbey and all of us at Kings and Marketplace

We hear from John Miller in response to the Update’s recent history column, From Camas to Oysters (and “Please pass the peas.”) featuring a label from the San Juan Islands Cannery. John shared with us two labels from San Juan Canning Co…

San Juan Canning Co. Labels – John Miller collection

Behavioral health leader announces free, downloadable templates and protocols as part of COVID-19 response…

EVERETT – Today, behavioral health organization Compass Health announced it is sharing COVID-19 communications resources on its website to support widespread safety and well-being efforts.  

Recognizing the unprecedented scale and impact of COVID-19, Compass Health’s behavioral health professionals created these materials as part of the organization’s own rigorous response protocol.

While working with the National Council for Behavioral Health, and realizing the impact shared resources could have for behavioral health providers across the country, Compass Health decided to make them available to everyone. These free, downloadable templates ensure that small businesses, nonprofits and others have access to helpful tools to reinforce safety and strong communication with the communities they serve. Continue Reading

Are you missing your morning fitness class routine?

Try a safe, heart healthy exercise class to energize your active lifestyle from the comfort of your own home with Jacquelyn Reiff. This class will use easy to follow low-impact movements, increase core and muscular strength, while working on balance and stretching to enhance your daily living. A chair can be used for standing support and exercises can be modified depending on fitness level.

Fit and Over 50! Ages 50+
Must have access to a computer or cell phone with a webcam

Class will be accessed through a live Zoom video link, that Island Rec will send to your e-mail!

Monday & Wednesday 9:30-10:20am
April 1 – 29, 2020

Register for all of April $47.00
Drop – in, $6.00 per Class

To Register, visit our website www.islandrec.org.

Want to Try the First Class Free on March 30th?
E-mail [email protected]to get the Zoom Link

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) will launch a gift card website for local businesses, which will be fully live on March 31^st. The website will include gift card links to businesses, resources for businesses, and more.

Businesses are urged to submit their information as soon as possible using this form: ISLANDS STRONG Gift Card Website Form.  Any and all businesses in San Juan County may participate.

Please contact the EDC for more information: [email protected], or 360-379-2906.

The EDC thanks San Juan County, the Raynier Foundation, the Town of Friday Harbor,Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, and the Washington State Department of Commerce for their support this EDC initiative.

FRIDAY HARBOR, WA – San Juan Island Fire and Rescue (SJIF&R) continues to adjust emergency operations and preparations needed during the global COVID-19 pandemic. “During the current health crisis emergency SJIF&R continues adapting our emergency response capabilities to meet the needs of our residents and responders,” said SJIF&R Chief Norvin Collins.

Within less than 24-hours of Washington Governor Inslee’s “Stay at Home” order, SJIF&R implemented an on-duty, 24/7 emergency response capability with a rotating 3 or 4-person crew. The on-duty crew is housed in SJF&R’s main fire station. The crew consists of 1 Officer, 1 Apparatus Operator, and 2 Firefighter and/or Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). Continue Reading

These are challenging times.  We know that you are facing extraordinary difficulties right now and we want to help.

Local non-profits such as ourselves, and government agencies at all levels, are working to create programs to help businesses, employees, and the community as a whole.  Right now, we wanted to let you know that we are also providing free business counseling to help you weather the current situation.

New resources and programs are being created daily, so we are including the newest information on our webpage.  And we will update it with the newest info the minute we learn of it: https://www.sanjuansedc.org/covid-19/. We’re looking forward to new programs that will help you and your business – from FEMA, the SBA, the USDA, the IRS, the County, the Town and other agencies of the federal government.

While it’s really hard to do so right now, we encourage you to pause and step back for a moment.  Think strategically about your business – what can you cut costs on, which businesses can you partner with, what messaging you can be sending your customers.

You can also get your business listed on www.islandsstrong.com, the EDC’s new county-wide giftcard page for islands businesses. It’s free to participate, so send your info to [email protected], and we’ll get your website on there.

We’ll keep you in the loop on the recovery programs that are being rolled out.  Until our next email – and always – hang in there.  We are here for you.

Victoria Compton
Executive Director, EDC

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) has launched a weekly Business Recovery Call for business owners affected by COVID-19 implications.  The first meeting will be held via Zoom, on Wednesday, April 1^st, from 10-11a, and subsequent meetings will be held at the same time and day of the week.

To join business owners can join through Zoom: 
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/212416640?pwd=TE55YTE3bnlkVm00Yi9FUzE3UUpUZz09

Meeting ID: 212 416 640
Password: 317961

Or by phone:  (253) 215-8782 or (301) 715-8592.

Please contact the EDC for more information:  [email protected], or 360-379-2906.

The EDC thanks San Juan County, the Raynier Foundation, the Town of Friday Harbor,Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, and the Washington State Department of Commerce for their support this EDC initiative.